From reducing stress in parents of premature babies to encouraging sustainable food choices. Twelve EUR scientists receive an XS grant for their research project. The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) presents the awards.
The NWO Open Competition SGW is intended for free, curiosity-driven research. Within this scheme, the XS grant offers researchers the opportunity to explore an innovative and risky research idea in a short period of time. The grant amounts to a maximum of 50,000 euros per project and has a maximum duration of twelve months. The projects awarded contribute to the further development of scientific knowledge within the social sciences and humanities and related disciplines.
The twelve research projects:
Erasmus MC
Parents of premature babies often experience extreme stress, particularly when transferring between hospitals. This project investigates whether a preparatory virtual reality intervention can reduce this stress. By allowing parents to familiarise themselves with the new environment in advance through VR, the research aims to reduce anxiety, post-traumatic stress and disruption to the parent-child relationship. The results can directly contribute to more human-centred care practices in neonatal intensive care units.
Erasmus School of Economics
Placement decisions in secondary education have a major impact on pupils' educational opportunities, but are often inaccurate. This project investigates whether transparent algorithms, trained on Dutch educational data, can help to improve these decisions. By comparing algorithmic predictions with actual school recommendations, the research identifies systematic misplacements and inequalities, with the aim of supporting fairer and more effective educational choices.
The European Union wants to keep defence spending more within Europe, but this may inadvertently lead to national preferences that undermine internal cooperation. This project analyses large-scale procurement data to investigate whether Member States, influenced by security shocks and policy, favour their own companies over other EU suppliers. The results are directly relevant to the evaluation of European defence policy and the future of European strategic autonomy.
This research reveals how emotional expressions in negotiations are assessed differently depending on gender. Although anger can be strategically effective, it appears that women are systematically "punished" for displaying it. Through controlled experiments, the project analyses how this double standard affects beliefs, preferences and negotiation outcomes, and what this means for broader issues such as the gender pay gap.
Many people stay away from the stock market, not only because of risks, but also due to moral and reputational considerations. This project investigates whether socially responsible investing can lower these barriers. By experimentally analysing how visible ethical signals influence investment behaviour, the research provides insights for policymakers and financial institutions that want to encourage more inclusive and responsible investing.
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
This research takes an innovative approach to ADHD in the workplace. Instead of focusing on limitations, the project investigates whether a "growth mindset" intervention can help people with ADHD strengthen their self-regulation. Using an AI-driven smartphone intervention, it tests whether training and positive self-belief can lead to better work performance and mental well-being, with particular relevance for entrepreneurs and knowledge-intensive sectors.
Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences
Anxiety disorders are common among young people and can seriously affect school performance and well-being. This project focuses on the early recognition and treatment of anxiety before it becomes clinical. By investigating resilience factors and actively involving young people in the development of support strategies, the research aims to provide practical tools for parents, teachers and schools to make anxiety more manageable.
Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication
Erasmus University College
For many students, fear of public speaking is a serious obstacle to their studies and careers. This project investigates the physiological processes that occur when virtual reality is used as a therapy for fear of public speaking. By combining VR with biological measurements, the research maps out how anxiety is reduced and which mechanisms play a role in this, with the aim of better substantiating the use of VR in mental health care.
International Institute of Social Studies
This project investigates how justice is realised in practice for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Kenya. By mapping institutional structures and focusing on the experiences of survivors, the research reveals where systems fall short and how they can be made more socially inclusive and effective. The study combines quantitative data with participatory methods and contributes to survivor-oriented forms of justice.
International truck drivers often become unintentionally involved in irregular migration. This project investigates how these encounters change both drivers and local communities, and how care and mutual safety can arise in a sector that is often viewed through a security lens. By applying a feminist care perspective, the research offers an alternative narrative for migration, beyond fear and criminalisation.
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